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Dots and Boxes Game Online

Dots and boxes is the classic pencil-and-paper game: take turns joining two dots next to each other with a line. Whoever draws the fourth side of a box wins it, writes their letter in it and takes another turn. When every line is drawn, the player with the most boxes wins. Play it free online with no download or sign-up, on a 3 × 3 board for a quick game up to 6 × 6, against our gentle computer (easy or medium) or with two players taking turns on the same phone, tablet or computer.

Play dots and boxes

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How to play dots and boxes

  1. Take turns to draw one line between two dots that are next to each other, across or down (never diagonally).
  2. If your line finishes the fourth side of a box, the box is yours (your letter goes in it) and you have another turn.
  3. When every line has been drawn, the player with the most boxes wins.
  4. Try not to draw the third side of a box: the other player can then finish it. Near the end, when every line gives something away, give away as few boxes as you can.
  5. Tap or click between two dots to draw a line. Choose the board size and whether you play the easy computer, the medium computer, or a friend (two players).
  6. Keyboard: the arrow keys move between the dots; press Enter and then an arrow key to draw a line from the dot you are on (or hold Shift and press an arrow). H shows a hint.

My dots and boxes stats

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    How to play

    1. Take turns to draw one line between two dots that are next to each other, across or down (never diagonally).
    2. If your line finishes the fourth side of a box, the box is yours (your letter goes in it) and you have another turn.
    3. When every line has been drawn, the player with the most boxes wins.
    4. Try not to draw the third side of a box: the other player can then finish it. Near the end, when every line gives something away, give away as few boxes as you can.
    5. Tap or click between two dots to draw a line. Choose the board size and whether you play the easy computer, the medium computer, or a friend (two players).
    6. Keyboard: the arrow keys move between the dots; press Enter and then an arrow key to draw a line from the dot you are on (or hold Shift and press an arrow). H shows a hint.

    Who it’s for: Kids from about age 5, families, and anyone who played it on paper at school. Sound is off unless you turn it on, there is no time limit, and “Pause” stops the clock.

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    Dots and boxes tips and strategy

    • Never draw the third side of a box if you can help it: it hands the box to the other player.
    • Early on, draw lines on the edge of the grid and between boxes that have no lines yet: they are safe.
    • Near the end every move gives something away. Count the chains (rows of boxes that fall one after another) and give away the shortest first.
    • Whoever takes the first box of a chain takes the whole chain, so the end of the game is about who has to open the long chains.

    Dots and boxes is easy to draw: a grid of dots on any paper. For more games to print and play together, try our memory games, mazes and sudoku for kids.

    Questions

    How do you play dots and boxes?

    Players take turns joining two neighbouring dots with a line. Draw the fourth side of a box and you win it and go again. When all the lines are drawn, whoever has the most boxes wins. It needs no equipment on paper: just a grid of dots and two pencils.

    Is there a strategy to win?

    Avoid drawing the third side of any box, because that hands it to the other player. Late in the game every line gives something away, so give away the shortest chain of boxes you can. Strong players also learn to leave the last two boxes of a long chain (the “double-cross”) to keep control, but you can beat our easy computer without that.

    How good is the computer?

    It is gentle. The easy computer sometimes misses a box it could take and sometimes gives boxes away. The medium computer takes every box it can, avoids giving boxes away while it can, and then gives away as few as possible; it does not use the expert double-cross trick, so it can be beaten.

    Can two people play on one device?

    Yes. Choose “Two players” and take turns tapping on the same phone, tablet or computer. Player 1’s boxes are blue with a 1, Player 2’s are orange with a 2. Nothing is sent over the internet.

    Which board size should I choose?

    Start with 3 × 3 (9 boxes, a few minutes) for young children or to learn the rules. 4 × 4 and 5 × 5 are good family games, and 6 × 6 (36 boxes) is a long game with more chances for clever play.

    Is it safe for children?

    Yes. There is no chat, no account, no in-game purchases and no links to other sites. Adverts on the page are non-personalised and sit below the game, away from where children tap.

    Is it free? Do I need to sign up or download anything?

    It is free and plays in your web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. There is nothing to download and no account. Your stats are kept in this browser only. A few adverts on the page, kept well away from the game, pay for the site.

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